USA > Indiana > Boone County > Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana, giving an account of the early settlement of each locality, church histories, county and township officers from the first down to 1886 Biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and women. > Part 18
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Martha, Margaret E., William J., single and at home ; Al- bert L., departed this life at the age of 4 months; Benjamin C., married to Miss Martha J. White, November 4, 1870; after her decease lre was married to Miss Clara M. Dooley, November 21, 1886. He resides near Zionsville, Ind. He was elected County Commissioner in November, 1884. Syl- vester C., single, resides in Kansas Gity. Vando L., married " to Miss Elma O. Schooler, resides in Perry Township, Boone County, Ind. Ada, married to S. N. Cragun, resides in Leb- anon, Ind. Mark A., married to Miss Elma F. Hoggins, resides in Worth Township, Boone County, Ind. Emma R., single, at home. Daniel W. V., married to Miss L. Elsie Barb, resides one mile east of Whitestown, Ind. Minnie M., married to Leander W. Tomlinson, resides one mile south of Whitestown, Ind.
Mr. and Mrs. Booher are still living and enjoying good health.
Mr. Booher is one of the early pioneers of this country. He endured the hardships and privations common to the early settlers of a country. When he and Mrs. Booher started out to battle with the realities of life they had but little of the necessaries to make life comfortable. Their culinary depart- ment was not filled with such things as we find in a pantry of to-day. They had one oven, one iron pot, three pewter plates, three kuives and forks, two cups and saucers and a few other things common among the pioneers of this country.
In the year 1845, Mr. Booher moved to where he now resides, one-half mile south of Whitestown. Boone County, Ind. This country was then, to a great extent, a wilderness and much of it under water. Mr. Booher killed wild ducks in a pond where Whitestown now stands. He purchased ninety acres of land which, at the time, was covered with a dense forest hitherto unmolested by the woodman's ax. He could see nothing before him but a life of toil, but with that determination that characterizes the successful man, he entered upon the arduous task of felling timber, clearing land, rolling
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logs and cultivating the soil, laboring from early morn until dewy eve under the disadvantages incident to all the early settlers.
Mr. Booher, by industry, perseverance, economy and good management, accumulated a considerable amount of wealth. He owns several farms, aggregating several hundred acres of productive land. He ranks with the leading financial men of the county. For his success in this particular he deserves much credit. He was not a lazy loiterer, who expected a streak of good luck to come to him. He knew that honest endeavor weaves the web of life, turns the wheel of fortune, amasses wealth and keeps one permanently rich. Mr. Boo- . her's indomitable will and inflexible purpose, linked with courage to work for an honest living, led to his financial snc- cess. Men who do not go out into the great field of human exertion, but wait for success to come to them, are the men who, for the most part, are at the bottom of dishonesty and corruption. Lazy men hate the rich and always have hated them.) They never emulate their energy, industry and econ- omy, and hence deserve no help from them. Laziness has cravings for vices which lead to untold misery.
Mr. Booher did, until late years, vote with the Democratic party. His first vote for president was cast for James K. Polk. He is now in sympathy with the National party. He became somewhat disgusted at the management and the politi- cal machinery of the two leading parties, and like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, he refuses to bow to the images they set up, or to dance to their music. He protests against the despotism of American politics, and claims that at conven- tions, at the ballot-box and everywhere, without hindrance and without malediction, men shall vote as they think best, keep- ing in view the common interest of the people of the nation. He does his own reading and thinking, and votes and acts accordingly.
As a financier Mr. Booher has but few equals, as is evi- denced by his financial success and history. He never made
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a mistake in his judgment as to his own financial affairs. His judgment in regard to the finances of our great nation has not as yet been fully tested. He has a right to his opinion and to the advocacy of it both by speech and ballot. In another part of this work will be found a portrait of Mr. Booher.
JOHN M. BALL.
Quite prominent among the people of Boone County is the person's name at the head of this sketch, he being a son of Adrin and Mary Ball, he being of German descent and she of English. Mr. Ball's parents came from Tennessee to Boone County at a very early day, settling near Thorn- town in 1831. Was born in Sugar Creek Township, of this county, January 20, 1833. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Case, February 14, 1857. With him she has proven herself a worthy and faithful companion, the result of this marriage being one child, Carrie, who married Alfred H. Allen, son of Rev. Allen. Mr. Ball was so unfortunate as to lose one of his limbs; was hurt at school in 1851, and from that time on it bothered him until inflammation set in, and in May, 1872, had it amputated. His occupation has been that of farming until 1868, when he went in the grain business at Thorntown with Alfred Burk. This partnership lasted for about two years. He was nominated by the Democratic party for the auditor's office, to which he was elected by an over- whelming majority when the county was about three to four hundred Republican, and was elected again in 1882, which term he has just finished. This shows Mr. Ball's standing with the people of Boone County. He has been a very liberal patron to the secret orders of the county, belonging to the Masons, Odd Fellows, Red Men, Knights of Pythias and Knights of Labor. Mr. Ball was elected president of the Agricultural Association in 1878, which he filled satisfac- torily for about four years. His sympathies have always been
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with that of the farmer. Politically speaking, he has always been a straight out Democrat, and what offices have been be- stowed upon him have been very satisfactorily filled.
CALEB S. BEACH
Was born in Butler County, Ohio, March 5, 1814. Was married to Mariah Rosabom 7th of November, 1839, born March 5, 1820. Came to Boone County in 1853, settling in Washington Township, near Mechanicsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Beach belong to the United Brethren Church. Their chil- dren's names are as follows: Joseph H., born January 30, 1884, married to Rachel Bennett. Mary, married to Nicholas Bennett, born, May 1, 1842. Phebe, born Decen- ber 22, 1843, died July 20, 1849, buried in Ohio. Cath- arine, born April 7, 1845, died July 20, 1849, buried also in Ohio. Martha, born November 28th, 1846, died August 4,1849. Sarah, born July 29, 1848, was married to John Bennett ; resides in Sugar Creek. Clarkson, born January 10, 1851, married to Annie Rodgers; live in Kirkland, Indi- ana. Emeline, born November 22, 1852, married to Thomas Bennett. Resides in Kansas. Joseph H. was in the army, Fifty-fourth Regiment. All the deceased members are buried in Ohio.
GREENBURY BUNTON
Was born in Nichoal County, Kentucky, March 22, 1817, united in marriage to Melvina Harrison, Feb. 24, 1848. The following are their children's names: Newton H, resides near his father, Wm. W., in Clinton County. Mrs. Bunton died in 1852; is buried in Clinton County. Mr. Bunton was again married to Martha A. Ham, October 9, 1865. Jessie D., married to Fillmore L. Potts, resides at home ; Mattie G. died at the age of three years ; buried at the Bunton Cemetery. Mr. Bunton has resided on his farm since 1834, on the north
M
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side of Sugar Creek, near the Clinton County line, in Wash- ington Township, one and one-half miles west of Mechanics- burg. His father's name was James Bunton, his mother's name was Susan Benson, who died in Kentucky. Mr. James Bunton died in 1845; is buried at the Bethel Cemetery. Mr. Bunton was a member of the Christian Church.
JOHN L. BUNTIN.
This grand old pioneer was born in Nicholas County, Ken- tucky, October 10, 1805. Was married to Sarah Riley, April 23, 1828, in Kentucky. Came to Boone in 1829, where he entered his land, and moved on it in 1835. He is yet living at the advanced age of eighty-two years. The following are the names of the children by the first marriage: Elizabeth married to William Haller, reside in Kansas. Mary, died in infancy. Martha E., married to William Brown, reside in Lebanon. Julia A., died at the age of four years. John died at the age of nine years. James R., resides in Lebanon, mar- ried to Mary Pauly. Nancy, married to Urbin Mckinsey, reside in Noblesville, Indiana. Mr. Buntin was the second time married to Nancy Stephenson, January 12, 1862. Child is named Annie and the only one lives at home. Mr. B. is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Also his wife. Mr. B. joined in 1839, has been an elder more than forty years. He lives on the land he entered, on the line between Clinton and Washington townships. He is regarded as one of the best men in the county. All honor to this good old pioneer.
SOL. W. BECK.
Mr. Beck was born in North Carolina, January 4, 1823. Son of John Beck, who came to Boone County in 1829. S. W. Beck was then in his seventeenth year. His wife, Marga- rette Pauly, was born in Tennessee, December 7, 1823. Came with her parents to this county when seven years of age. Mr.
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and Mrs. Beck were married January 11, 1843, in Boone County, near where they now live, in Washington Township, six miles north of Lebanon and one and one-half miles west of Pike's crossing. Mr. and Mrs. Beck, as well as all the children, are members of the M. E. Church. When camping we stopped at this pleasant home, where kindness and hospi- tality reigned supreme. The following are their children's names : Sarah E., married to J. Q. Colston ; the second time to Mr. Hollingsworth, reside in Washington Township. Juda E., married to William Powell, reside in Washington Town- ship. Susan F., married to H. M. Burcaw, reside in Clinton township. Mary A., married to Elton B. Hollingsworth, reside on the home farm. Anna L., married to William Rob- erts, reside in Washington Township. Two children died in infancy and are buried at Bethel Cemetery in Washington Township. Mrs. Beck was the daughter of the late Joseph Pauly, one of the pioneers of Boone County.
SAMPSON BOWEN.
This sturdy old pioneer first looked out on this beautiful world in Harrison County, Kentucky, Aug. 19, 1818. When a boy of eighteen he arrived in this county, and was joined by his parents here three years after. Their names were Frances. Sarah G. Bowen, who died August 20, 1867, and July 19, 1874, respectively. They are buried at Pleasant View Ceme- tery. Sampson Bowen was married to Mary A. Burk April 11, 1844, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Burk and sister of Dr. George L. Burk, of Jamestown. Mrs. Burk, mother of Mr. Bowen, died September 24, 1839. Mrs. Burk died February 27, 1868. Buried at the Erskin Cemetery. The following are the names of Sampson Bowen's children : Geo. E., born March 7, 1846. Albert C., born December 7, 1847. Armilda M., born July 2, 1849, died 1853. Emily J., born January 19, 1851, died September 1853. James C., born May 9, 1853, died September 27, 1853. Maretta, born July
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25, 1858; married to Samuel Huckstep November 9, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen belong to the Christian Church, and are a grand old couple, know all about pioneer life. They live at home in their old days, about one mile southeast of Dover, in Jefferson township, where they are highly respected by both old and young. To them the writer is indebted for favors shown while canvassing for the "Early Life and Times in Boone County."
HENRY I. BENNETT
Was born in Warren County, Ohio, June 24, 1823, and came to Boone County, Ind., in October, 1844, locating in Clinton Township. Was married to Sarah Witham, in Warren County, Ohio, December 23, 1843. The following are their childrens' names: Robert, died in Andersonville Prison in October, 1864; Martha C., married to Marion Pavy, reside in Kirk- land, Ind .; Mary A., married to George D. Hardesty, reside in Kansas ; Rachael, married to Joseph Beach, reside in Wash- ington Township; Nicholas E., married to Ida M. Anderson, reside in Kansas; John W., married to Mattie Dewall, live on the farm ; Silas W., married to Elizabeth McLance, live with the old folks on the farm ; Henry M., died in infancy ; Rozella, married to Charles Kersy, reside in Smith County, Kan .; Adia A., married to Lewis K. Holmes, reside in Clinton County, Ind. Mr. B. served sixteen years as justice of the peace in his township. Has joined in marriage and preached more sermons than almost any other man in the county. He has spent much time in the study of the Scriptures, and is well informed. Mr. B. was also one of the pioneer school teachers, having taught in this and Clinton Townships for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are a deserving couple and know all about pioneer life. At their friendly home they have entertained many since their coming to this county. They have lived to see the woods cleared away, and well-cul- tivated fields rise in every direction ; the log cabin displaced, and the more comfortable buildings take their place. While
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getting material for this work it was our good fortune to stop with this good old pioneer couple, and to listen to the interest- ing recitals of hardships endured by them. In person, Mr. B. is rather under the medium size and of fair complexion. Long may this couple live to enjoy the fruits of their toil. Mr. B. lives in the north part of the county, two miles east of Mechanicsburg, and one mile south of Clinton County line.
ANDREW BURNS.
This pioneer was born in Nicholas County, Ky., July 18, 1820. Came to Boone County in the year 1850. First settled in Clinton Township, where he has since resided, and where he owns a fine farm, made by his own hands. He has fine buildings ; takes delight in following his chosen profession ; is a sterling Democrat of the Jeffersonian style. His companion in life was formerly Nancy Laurence, daughter of John R. and Jane Laurence. Mr. and Mrs. B. were married June 22,
1854. The following are the names of their children : Mary J., died aged ten years, and is buried in Salem Cemetery, in Clinton Township; John F., lives at home; Eliza A., mar- ried to Emsly Ham ; William C., married to Fannie Rouse, reside in Clinton Township; Oliver L., lives at home. Two of their children died in infancy, and are buried in Salem Cemetery. Both Mr. and Mrs. Burns belong to the Presby- terian Church. Mr. B.'s parents' names were William and Isabella, who were early settlers in Clinton Township, and are buried in Salem Cemetery. Mrs. B.'s parents are buried in Robinson Cemetery, in Center Township.
JOHN M. BURNS.
Mr. Burns, one of the pioneers of Boone County, was born in the state of Kentucky, on the 6th of May, in the year 1816. He was married to Miss S. A. Wylie in 1842. Miss Wylie
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was born also in Kentucky, February 12, 1823. They came to Boone County in the year 1834, settling in Clinton Town- ship. Mrs. Burns died December 17, 1852. She is buried at Salem Church Cemetery. The following are the names of their children : Eliza J., born May 31, 1847, married to James A. Powell, February 27, 1868, reside in Clinton Town- ship where they own a fine farm ; Joseph A., married to Anna Paxton, reside in Kansas. Mr. Burns was again married to Mary Stephenson, who was born in Kentucky. The following are the names of his children by this marriage : Henry C., Mary A., Lola Q. (deceased). Mr. Burns now resides in Kansas. He was one of the prominent men of the county since 1836. Served as county surveyor many years with entire satisfaction. Also township trustee of Clinton Township for eight terms. See his portrait on another page.
HIRAM BRENTON.
Mr. Brenton is one among the early settlers of Clinton Township, coming as early as 1835. He was married to Rachael Wylie, July 4, 1836. Mr. Brenton has resided a long time in Clinton Township.
The town of Elizaville was at one time a part of his farm. In person Mr. Brenton is tall, well made, six feet high, and has been an iron man, has done a great deal of hard work. He and his wife have underwent hardships unknown to those now living and enjoying the fruits of their labor. Mr. and Mrs. Brenton are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Mud Creek. The follow- ing are their children's names: Elizabeth C., Oliver and Samuel. Elizabeth married to B. B. Batts ; Oliver and Sam- uel reside at home, the latter married to Ola Cary. Three of their children died in infancy. Buried at the Salem Cemetery in Clinton Township.
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JOHN BECK.
Mr. Beck was born in North Carolina in the year 1800, and on the 29th day of September of that year. He was mar- ried to Juliet Shinall. Mr. Beck came to Union County, Ind., in the year 1811, remained there until 1836, when he became a citizen of Boone County, settling three and one-half miles northwest of Lebanon, and there resided until his death, Octo- ber 13, 1876. He was one of the pioneers of the county, and all through life a worthy citizen and prominent member of the Regular Baptist Church for over fifty years. His wife also came when quite young to Union County, where they were married about the year 1820. Mrs. Beck was born in the year 1799. She also was for over fifty years a member of the Bap- tist Church, and as well as her husband, was a regular attend- ant of that church. She died August 3, 1875, at her home, three and one-half miles northwest of Lebanon, where, also, Mr. Beck died, and near where they lived so long, and where their best days were spent and where they were well known and loved so well. They are buried at the Beck Cemetery, and where loving hands have erected monuments to their memory. They knew all about pioneer life, and in their early home in Union County before Indiana was a state they battled with a frontier life, and had at one time to take refuge in a block house from the hostile Indians. When they arrived in this county in 1836 the county was quite new. They were then in their prime, with strong hands and a determination to make a home in this new country, they with hard toil and patience succeeded, and at the close of life at a good old age, had plenty to bless them with. They raised a large family of thirteen children, most of whom reside in this county, and like their parents, are highly esteemed as good men and wo- men. The following are their names: Elizabeth P., married to W. R. Taylor (she is deceased). Abner, married to Martha Preston, resides in Union County, Ind. Sol. W., married to
DR. JESSE S. REAGAN.
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Margaret Pauly, resides in Washington Township. . William, married to Sarah Witt, both deceased. John F., married to Kitty A. Kersey, reside in Center township. Samuel L., married to Eliza Pauly, reside in Worth Township. Anthony, married to Mary J. Hinton, reside in Washington Township. Jackson, married to Elvy A. Pauly, reside in Lebanon. Mary H., married to Robert Kerns; she is deceased. George, mar- ried to Arminta M. Phillips, reside in Center Township. Louisa J. deceased. Zachariah deceased. Susan A., married to Montgomery Remington, resides in Nebraska.
Mr. has 76 grandchildren, and 104 great grandchildren, living and deceased.
A. J. BOONE.
Mr. Boone, a descendant of the noted pioneer of Kentucky, was during his lifetime an active, influential citizen of Boone County. His father, Benjamin Boone, was born in Kentucky, resided there up to 1827, when he removed to Preble County, Ohio, and in 1834 came to Rush County, Ind. In 1838 he removed to Boone County, Ind. A. J. Boone, the subject of this sketch, was born in Preble County, Ohio, July 17, 1820. In 1841 he was elected county auditor, serving until 1843. In early life he decided to become a lawyer, and in the year 1848 was licensed to practice, having previously engaged in school teaching in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Lebanon, Ind. In 1851, he was married to Mary E. Mclaughlin, daughter of the late James McLaughlin, an early citizen of the county. In 1849, and up to 1853, he was assistant clerk of the house of representatives of Indiana. As an attorney, he rose rapidly, and became a successful practitioner, not only at the bar of Lebanon and adjoining county seats, but at the bar of the Supreme Court. He was one of the prime movers in estab- lishing the Boone County Pioneer in Lebanon. He was also among the first advocates of a county fair, and served as direc- tor and stockholder many years. In 1873 he was elected to
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the state senate from Boone County, where he served with credit four years. He was associated in the practice of law with R. W. Harrison, of Lebanon, during which time he resided on his farm, four miles southeast of Lebanon, walking to and from his office almost daily ; this to gain his failing health. All through life in his various pursuits, in private and public, he was active and industrious. While the profession of the law was an honor to him, he was an honor to it, never stoop- ing to low, dishonorable actions. He died at his home in the county July 12, 1875. Mr. Boone was a member of the Christian Church. His widow resides on the farm, and for the past few years has been an invalid. After Mr. Boone died, Mrs. Boone married Mr. Harper, with whom she lived up to his death in 1814. Mrs. Harper died February 18, 1887.
ANTHONY BECK.
One of the most prominent men of the county is the one whose name heads this short and imperfeet sketch. He is the son of John Beck, one of the pioneers of Boone County, both of whom were born in North Carolina. Anthony Beck was born May 15, 1831. His wife, Mary J. Hinton, was born Novem- ber 31, 1831. They were married September 27, 1849. The following are his children's names : Martha E., born July 27, 1850, married March 17, 1870; died April 22, 1870. John Beck was born December 23, 1851; William R., born Febru- ary 14, 1854; Alonzo, born November 24, 1855; he died in 1867; Leander, born May.22, 1857; Francis M., born August 17,1860 ; Anthony W., born August 17, 1862 ; Sarah E , born Angust 25, 1865; Anna L., born December 1, 1867; Charles R., born December 20, 1869, died, August, 1873 ; Albert, born November 17, 1871; Lena M., born February 10, 1876. Mr. Beck is among the most prosperous men in the county. Ile owns nearly three hundred acres of land in Washington Town- ship, where he lives, one mile and a half west of Pike's Cross-
BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
ing, where he has a fine residence and well fixed to live. Long may he live to enjoy his well earned property. Has given his children twelve thousand dollars.
FRANCIS MARION BUSBY
Whose portrait appears on another page, was for many years one of the most prominent figures in the commercial and political history of Boone County. Coming to Lebanon in 1834, he was, at the date of his death in 1886, one of the few remaining of the little band of pioneers who had settled at this point prior to 1840. From early manhood to the close of his useful and eventful life, he was foremost in all move- i ments calculated to benefit his adopted town and county, as well as being active in all measures for the amelioration of his fellow-men, and it is but just to his memory to say that no other man's personality was ever so deeply impressed upon the community. { He was a witness to the progress of Lebanon from its inception until it had become a busy city of five thousand souls, and the county which he first beheld as a wil- derness, he lived to see developed into a vast area of culti- vated farms, dotted with thrifty towns and villages, and pop- ulated with a sturdy, prosperous, and enterprising people.
Mr. Busby was born in Bath County, Kentucky, on the 29th of May, 1831, and with his father and mother removed to Lebanon in 1834. In 1853 he was married to Miss Lu- cinda Haun, at Thorntown, and to this union were born five sons and one daughter, the latter dying in infancy. The five sons-Charles E., Elmer D., John H., Albino O., and Dick L .- are all engaged in the milling business in Lebanon, in the large plant established by the father and Charles E., and known as the Globe Roller Mills.
Mr. Busby's character was known to all men as being of such sterling worth that he became a veritable public servant. The confidence reposed in him was never abused or betrayed, and he was universally regarded as a wise counsellor and an
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efficient executive. He was twice elected treasurer of Boone County, and during the dark days of the Rebellion he ren- dered valuable service to the cause of the Union. For a per- iod of twelve years he was postmaster at Lebanon, and this trust, as in the case of all others that were in his keeping, he discharged with the utmost fidelity. He was a member of the city council for several terms, and a few days before his death he had been appointed to a vacancy in the school board.
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